Tuesday, April 20, 2010

While riding along the shore of Esquimalt Lagoon yesterday I was so busy scanning the horizon for sea-birds that I nearly drove over this little snake as he was crossing the road. In fact, it was such a near miss that I stopped to go back and check to see if he was OK. I'm happy to say I hadn't harmed him and he stayed around long enough for me to capture the above photo. According to an informative article by the Comox Valley Naturalists Society there are 4 species of snake resident on Vancouver Island, three of which are garter snakes. None of them are poisonous or aggressive. This is the Western Terrestrial Garter Snake (Thamnophis elegans), characterized by the yellow stripe down his back and brown diamonds on his sides. Garter Snakes are the most widely distributed North American reptile. These are generally pretty small snakes although I have seen some more than 3 feet (1 meter) long. The snake above was about 18 inches (50 cm.) long.

8 comments:

Years ago in Colwood in our lawn, I picked up a bright emerald coloured snake, about 7 or 8 inches long. I kept it long enough to show my boys then let it go. New to the island, I assumed it was some native snake unknown to me.Since then, I talked with several local biologists and naturalists about it. They all informed me that no snake with such a description lives here naturally. I sometimes wonder just what it is I found that day...

My 2nd snake story...In the zoology archive collection of the Royal BC Museum, they have a pickled garter snake the size of a rattle-snake. (I saw it while working at the museum...) It was discovered on one of the Gulf Islands around the turn of the 20th century as I recall. It is an example of 'gigantism' where certain animals can grow to many time their normal size under the right environment conditions and an absence of predators.If I ever came across that thing in my lawn, it would freak me out.

Ben, this such a great shot. They scare the beejessus out of me when surprised by them but they are wonderful to watch. Years ago I watched one persue a frog through tall grass, he would slither through the grass and then periscope up to "feel" the frog with his tongue and then continue the persuit. Eating the frog he caught is a whole other story! Thanks for sharing this great photo.Smiles

Situated on the far west coast of Canada, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is the capital city of the Province of British Columbia. Its benign climate (the warmest winters in Canada) and placid lifestyle make it a favorite retirement location as well as a popular tourist destination. About 400,000 people live in Victoria and adjacent communities.Click the photos to see them larger!